Let me tell you about human nature. If we’re not interested in something, we might think everyone else’s interest in it is funny.
That’s the way I feel about the Dennis Hastert/William Jefferson blog swarm. Here’s the short version. Congressional crook and Democrat William Jefferson was caught on tape taking bribes from an undercover agent. The genius hid the money in his freezer.
The FBI raided his congressional office, and as blacks sometimes do when in trouble, Jefferson implied that it was because he was black. Accepting payoffs had nothing to do with it, I suppose. Anyway, so Jefferson raised separation-of-power issues and refused to resign. [Clarification for those who don't follow links or the story: Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi asked Jefferson to resign his position on the House Ways and Means Committe, not his House seat.] Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert (who has a “blog”), Republican, called the raid unconstitutional and demanded the return of the documents.
Naturally, people are questioning Hastert’s motives. Does he have something to hide? Yesterday ABC News reported that he was being investigated by the Department of Justice. Hastert and the DOJ deny it, but ABC is sticking by its story.
The Republican blogosphere is swarming all over the story. Bloggers are upset that Hastert appears to be defending Jefferson. Based on first impressions, I believe Republicans are up in arms because Hastert has unlocked his legs and gone public with an unpopular position: defending a Democrat.
I caught similar heat, but on a much smaller scale, when I blogged about impeaching Bush for his national security-breaching, immigration non-enforcement policy. Frankly, I don’t care about Jefferson or Hastert, but since blog swarms are fun, I think I’ll join.
What do you think of Jefferson’s criminal acts, ABC’s insistence, and Hastert’s and DOJ’s denials?
If you’ve blogged about it, trackback to this post, and I’ll link.
Bloggers: NZ Bear chastises ABC. Dan Riehl says ABC is “busted”. Glenn Reynolds is commenting and collecting links. More link-love at Madame Malkin’s. Wizbang, too. About the e-mail from House staffer Krista Cole, I’m on the same mailing list. Hastert denies he’s under investigtion and demands a retraction from ABC.
Frank at Common Sense Junction, a “student of history,” writes his congressman. Vent is all over it. Jim at Gateway Pundit says the Congressional Black Caucus plans to meet with Nancy Pelosi. To tell her off, no doubt. Why is it that black racial solidarity is good, but white racial solidarity is bad? Is it that slavery thing again? 
FullosseousFlap blogs about damage control.
James Joyner blogs on bumper stickers.
Commenter and blogger Fmragtops says:
I think you’re mis-characterizing the right’s anger at Hastert. It’s not because he is defending a Democrat, it’s because he is defending a criminal…What makes it worse is that he’s not just defending a criminal, but he’s defending the kind of criminal that furthers the stereotype that all politicians are crooks. And that makes him look like a crook.
Update (3:30 p.m.): New stuff coming down the pike: Hastert “may” sue ABC News, Jefferson’s seized documents sealed for 45 days…
Hastert “lashes out” at Justice. Wait a second…I thought they were on the same page? Now he accuses DOJ of trying to intimidate him? You know, after the FBI raid on Jefferson’s office, Hastert probably should have kept his mouth shut…
Glenn Reynolds says about Bush’s decision to seal Jefferson’s seized docs:
Could Al Qaeda have slipped mind-altering drugs into the DC water supply? What’s gotten into these people? Or has some sort of deal been cut? Whatever it is, I don’t think I like it…I keep wondering what I’m missing here. It’s too late for a big third-party push in ’06, I think, but I’m pretty sure we’ll see one in ’08. At this rate, it may be the only party left….
Now that he mentioned it, the water here does taste funnier than usual… 
Randy Thomas joins the swarm.
On a semi-related note, Bush’s amnesty-for-illegal-aliens bill passes in the Senate. More details.
